Thread: Italian suede and superb cotton...18 Inches of new Stropping bliss.

I just finished making this baby earlier today.

She strops like a princess and the edge she produces is magical.

I appreciate any suggestions / comments / improvements.

wow, that is classy! I like the fine cotton, i notice the cloth gets kinda rough with some strops, even higher end ones. Does that soft, thin suede bow in the middle? That would be my only concern.

Looks very nicely done! I love the feel of suede strops, especially with a nice thin leather. Personally I like a longer strop and would trade width for length, but it can be hard to source good leather like that.
Beautiful strop, really. It's always satisfying to use something you've made yourself, too!

Ah...So that's the strop I've been hearing about...Nice work Burt....As far as improvements...I think it would work better in the U.S., right here in Flordia....Ha....
Seriously..Good Job....I've made a couple of paddles, nothing fancy, plain old cowhide leather from Tandy, but as Ben said, Nothing is more satisfying than using something you made yourself....much like a blade you've honed yourself....

I agree, that's a nice strop, but I'm thinking the humidity of Hong Kong and Jacksonville would kill it. As an alternate view I suggest the high desert air of central Washington.

Originally Posted by Dann

...Does that soft, thin suede bow in the middle? That would be my only concern.

I think this leather is actually Nubuck, not plain thin suede. Just read the definitions on-line, and this is full-grain leather, so it fits into the Nubuck category better.

I was a little worried about that myself when I thought of trying out a suede, but the piece I used is actually almost 1/8" thick. Much more supple than other strops, and ever so slightly more stretch in it, but the blade glides over it so easily that I find I use hardly any pressure, but get nice feedback on it.

Originally Posted by BKratchmer

....I love the feel of suede strops... Personally I like a longer strop and would trade width for length, but it can be hard to source good leather like that....
Beautiful strop, really. It's always satisfying to use something you've made yourself, too!

I'm also fallen in love with stropping on Nubuck/suede after a previous suede strop that I made. Also works brilliant on a paddle, impregnated with CrO2. I suppose I had enough leather to make it a fair bit longer, but the length I decided on just barely clears my bathroom countertop when it hangs from a towel hook...I know, that's not supposed to be the deciding factor! LOL.

I used a Dovo 3" XL strop for a long time, and this 18" of strop surface gives me a bit more length than that one. Just enough length to strop at high speed for my "muscle memory", being used to the dovo length. I might make a longer one next time 'round if I can get more of this mighty fine leather.

One thing I realised, after making a previous Nubuck strop, is that you really can't treat it with neatsfoot oil....I treated my other nubuck strop with it, and it is now a real pain to strop with. The blade just grabs, and it is a struggle to strop after treating with neatsfoot. This one I am only going to treat by rubbing with my hand, and maybe use suede/nubuck leather treatment on it when it really needs it.

Originally Posted by zib

Ah...So that's the strop I've been hearing about...Nice work Burt....As far as improvements...I think it would work better in the U.S., right here in Florida....Ha....
Seriously..Good Job....I've made a couple of paddles, nothing fancy, plain old cowhide leather from Tandy, but as Ben said, Nothing is more satisfying than using something you made yourself....much like a blade you've honed yourself....

Yep, this one is similar to the one you've heard of Rich. Same type of leather as that previous suede/nubuck one that I ruined with neatsfoot oil!

It is definitely more satisfying getting excellent results from something you've made yourself, I have to agree! Especially because the edges this thing creates is incredible. It must be the fine velvety nubuck surface that does the magic.

Originally Posted by deighaingeal

I agree, that's a nice strop, but I'm thinking the humidity of Hong Kong and Jacksonville would kill it. As an alternate view I suggest the high desert air of central Washington.

I guess I will have to keep this one locked up in the safe so it doesn't get lost, and strolls over the Pacific to the USA!

Who knows, maybe I can get hold of a few skins of this groovy leather, and make some more of them for you guys.

So next time I'll come to Hong Kong you'll get to take me to your leather supplier!

Originally Posted by wukong

So next time I'll come to Hong Kong you'll get to take me to your leather supplier!

Absolutely!

That's a very classy looking strop.

Originally Posted by leadingedge

I just finished making this baby earlier today.

She strops like a princess and the edge she produces is magical.

I appreciate any suggestions / comments / improvements.

Nice....

Way back I once read that it was an obligation
to make three prototypes for any project.
You keep one, Lynn gets one and
the monthly give away gets the third.

Or just keep us up to date with regular reports
on how it works for you over time. I will
be looking forward to an update in two
or three months.

I am a big fan of home made strops.
Each one I make teaches me things and
makes me appreciate the ones pros make
more and more.

Hmmm... I have another project in mind...